Hi- I need some advice on the above installation - I feel sure I am not the first to try this swap . The engine and trans have been rebuilt and partially installed in the chassis - the body is still off. We used the existing motor mounts in front. I am wrestling with how to install the transmission mount. It looks like Summit makes a rear transmission cross member mount, but: 1) Can it be installed without removing the parking brake cross member, and, 2) Can the existing bell housing cross member be removed without compromising the strength of the chassis? (Actually, for the installation I am doing it appears it must be removed. Is there something that needs to be done to strengthen the chassis in its absence). Thanks in advance. Nadodave
I put a 350/350 in a 66 carryall1/2 ton. Used the stock side mounts as it was 283. Stock trans mount. Didn't remove anything.
You can remove the bellhousing crossmember, and install a rear crossmember under the back of the transmission. If you get the parking brake cables from a 66 then you don't need the parking brake crossmember. If you can find an original auto trans crossmember from a 66-72 truck, it will make your life easy. and "suburban" and "panel" are two different vehicles.
You can remove the trans crossmember without problems, but you need some crossmember in the area of the stock parking brake crossmember. You can either take the stock one out, use a '66 parking brake set-up and put in a new crossmember for the 700r4 or make a new crossmember for the 700r4 and keep the stock parking brake crossmember. You haven't posted on your other thread, how's the panel coming.
700R4 is longer than a 350 or 400, and GM's stock crossmember in the later trucks can block the rear edge pan bolts making removing it a pain. There are a few alternate mount options for those transmissions. I'd look at making something up if I had the ability to weld.
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